fine - finely

Fine is usually used as an adjective, but in conversation you can also use it as an adverb. Fine has three main meanings.

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◊ used to mean 'very good'

You can use it to say that something is very good or impressive.

Paul Scofield gave a fine performance.

From the top there is a fine view.

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When you use fine like this, you can use words such as `very' or `extremely' in front of it.

He's interested and he'd do a very fine job.

The yellow building appears to be unusually fine by Moscow standards.

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You cannot use fine as an adverb with this meaning, but you can use the adverb finely in front of a past participle.

...finely written novels.

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◊ used to mean 'satisfactory'

You can also use fine to say that something is satisfactory or acceptable.

`Do you want it stronger than that?' —-`No, that's fine.'

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If you say that you are fine, you mean that your health is satisfactory.

`How are you?' —-`Fine, thanks.'

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When you use fine to mean `satisfactory', you do not use `very' in front of it, but you can use `just'.

Everything is just fine.

`Is she settling down nicely in England?' —-`Oh, she's just fine.'

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In conversation, you can use fine as an adverb to mean `satisfactorily' or `well'.

We got on fine.

I was doing fine.

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You do not use finely in sentences like these. You do not say, for example, `We got on finely'.

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◊ used to mean 'small' or 'narrow'

You can also use fine to say that something is very narrow, or consists of very small or narrow parts.

...fine hair.

...handfuls of fine sand.

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When you use fine like this, you can use words such as `very' in front of it.

These pins are very fine and won't split the wood.

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You can use finely as an adverb with this meaning.

...finely chopped meat.

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